Method and apparatus for towing skiers and the like



J. V HARMON Oct. 15, 1968 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TOWING SKIERS AND THE LIKE Filed July 16, 1965 INVENTOR. 17201:; V. b ARMON Jam United States Patent 3,405,651 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TOWING SKIERS AND THE LIKE James V. Harmon, 227 Emerald Ave., New Brighton, Minn. 55112 Continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 453,936, May 7, 1965. This application July 16, 1965, Ser. No. 472,572

12 Claims. (Cl. 104173) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Ski tow apparatus composed of a stationary elevated cable or rope secured at each end to an elevated support (typically metal tubes secured together at their upward ends) and a tow motor supported upon the cable for movement along it. The motor is provided with a driving wheel or belt that is engaged with the cable at times to propel the motor and a skier holding a handle that extends from the motor toward one end of the cable. Release of the handle disengages the driving wheel from the cable so that the motor can return to the lower end of the cable by gravity.

This is a continuation-in-part of my prior application entitled Method and Apparatus for Towing Skiers and the Like, filed May 7, 1965, and bearing Ser. No. 453,936.

The present invention relates to towing devices and more particularly the invention relates to relatively inexpensive, highly portable towing devices for safely transporting skiers and others engaged in Winter sports over snow covered ground. The invention is especially suited for temporary installations but is also useful in permanent installations as will be apparent from the following specification.

Numerous towing devices have been previously proposed for use by skiers and others engaged in winter sports. These prior devices have not been entirely successful when an attempt has been made to employ them for portable use. The most common type previously proposed includes an endless rope wrapped over sheaves at the top and bottom of the hill and a motor for driving one of the sheaves. One important reasons ski tows of this type have been unsuitable as a portable unit is the necessity for heavily constructed reinforced support towers supporting at least one and usually two or more heavy sheaves often the size of an automobile wheel hub. Trees at the right locations can be used in place of such towers but they are frequently unavailable. Furthermore, a tower of the type previously used is far too bulky and expensive to be used in applications for which the present invention is very well suited, viz, a device that can be easily lifted by one person and packed in an automobile trunk or pulled by hand to a nearby hill where it is to be used.

There is still another more serious disadvantage to conventional rope tows-they present a significant safety hazard particularly for inexperienced skiers, young people and children. This results from the fact that a person using a tow of this kind sometimes become entangled with the moving tow rope. Occasionally when this happens the person will fall and be dragged along the ground a substantial distance before the tow rope can be stopped. Tows of this type are illustrated in Us. Patents 3,166,021, 2,608,- 935 and 2,646,005. The last of these patents proposes a system for moving the tow cross-country to a selected skiing site where the tow is to be set up for use. This system consists of tying one end of a rope to a tree, placing a running loop over a gypsy spool, then manually pulling the loose end of the rope tight around the spool so that the drum runs along the rope. If one desires to go in a different direction, the tow must be turned around, the rope moved and tied to another tree.

Towing vehicles of the type which can be steered in any direction by a driver have been proposed as illustrated in U.S. Patent 3,059,711. These devices, however, require elaborate traction members such as screws and have to be driven to the base of the hill by an operator when others are to be brought to the top.

A variety of cable towed vehicles have been previously proposed for use in other arts. These vehicles can be divided into two types; first, those which are provided with a cable that extends away from them in one direction only. These devices, exemplified by US. Patents 2,583,557 and 2,219,515, are characterized by the ability to travel in one direction only. The second type are those which have cables extending in two directions as illustrated in US. Patents 2,859,704 and 2,863,399 which describe bogies used for pulling box cars with traction being provided by a static-nary electric motor mounted beneath a railroad track and US. Patents, 681,632 and 900,060 which disclose wheel supported tractors mounted upon a cable secured to a moveable trolley at each end. During operation each trolley slides the length of a stationary cable as the tractor is steered by means of the wheels over a field lying between the two stationary cables. Because the steering mechanism does not perform well in reverse, the cable is detached and the vehicle is turned around at each end of the field.

A variety of other towing devices have been previously proposed. These are either prohivitively expensive, ineffective for towing individuals over snow-covered ground or cannot be considered portable.

My prior application referred to hereinabove overcomes these deficiencies of the prior art. The present invention overcomes many of the same problems and has certain additional advantages as will be explained below.

In view of these and other defects in the prior art it is one object of the present invention to provide for skiers and the like an improved towing device which is inexpensive enough to be purchased by many individuals for private use.

Another object is to provide an improved ski tow which will travel with little frictional resistance, will enable the skier to easily negotiate dips in the ground and requires no reverse drive but yet will reliably travel to the lower end of the hill.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable ski tow of the type employing a stationary guide which will have good traction under all weather conditions.

Still another object is to provide a ski tow which can be easily pulled to a ski location by hand or carried in the trunk of an automobile.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved ski tow which is capable of being manufactured at a reduced cost through the elimination of a number of parts and through the requirement for only half as much rope or cable as is normally used.

Another object is the provision of an improved ski tow which can be quickly set up for operation merely by securing two relatively light weight elements to the ground at a spaced locations.

it is a further object of the invention to provide an improved ski tow which is safer to use than previous devices of the type described through the provision of a sys tem that enables the person being towed to control the motion of the tow and his own motion throughout operation.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of an improved ski tow with a movable motive power means, a flexible guide for steering the power means wherein the guide serves to provide support for the motive power means and driving traction for the motive power means in addition to steering it. 1

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of an improved tow apparatus for winter sports including a stationary elevated cable with a motive power device supported upon and mounted for movement along the cable for towing a person to the top of a hill and a further provision for allowing the motive power means to travel back to the bottom of the hill withut the attention of an operator and remain at the bottom of the hill until it is to be used again.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a partial side elevational view of the drive assembly of the invention on an enlarged scale relative to FIGURE 1 with the parts positioned to run downhill.

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the opposite side of the drive assembly shown in FIGURE 2 with the mechanism set to run uphill.

FIGURE 4 is a partial vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

The towing apparatus illustrated in the figures comprises a pair of identical supporting frames and 12 each consisting of two poles 14 and 16 fitted into intersecting sockets 18 and 20 provided in a holder 21 which serves as a means for retaining the poles in predetermined angular relationship. The holder 21 consists of a metal casting 22 having an eye 24 to which a line or cable 26 is secured. The center portions to the cable designated 30 is supported from about 6 to 10 feet above the ground. The lower end of each pole is pointed so that it will remain where placed in the snow. The free ends of the cable 26 extend downwardly from the eyes 24 secured into the ground by the provision of stakes 28. The stakes and frames 10 and 12 respectively serve as a relatively lightweight and portable means for supporting the cable 26 in fixed positions at the bottom and top of a ski hill.

Mounted over the cable 26 adjacent frame 10 at the lower end of the hill is a resilient member such as spring 34. To the central end of spring 34 is secured a bumper 36 that is free to slide longitudinally of the cable 26.

Supported by the cable for movement along its length is a towing drive assembly 40 including a rearwardly projecting operator support member or bar 42 with a transversely extending cross arm 44 afiixed at the lower end against which the back of the skiers legs rest when the apparatus is operated. One skier can be positioned against the front of the portion of the cross arm on either side of the bar 42.

The bar 42 is secured by means of a pivot 46 to the base of the drive assembly which takes the form of a housing 45. The free end bar is yieldably biased upwardly by spring 48 connected between the bar and housing 45.

A motive power means comprising a lightweight two cycle gasoline engine 46 of about three to ten horsepower is provided. The engine 46 can be of the type often used for driving chain saws and includes a centrifugal clutch 49 which becomes engaged above idling speeds. The clutch 49 is in turn suitably and conventionally connected as by speed reducing gears 50 (FIGURE 4) which remain in engagement throughout operation to an outwardly projecting shaft 52 upon which a sheave 54 is rigidly secured. Entrained over the sheave 54 and an identical sheave 56 that is itself mounted for free rotation upon a fixed idler shaft 58 is a traction member such as a belt 60 having a longitudinal extending groove 62 on its outside surface into which the cable 26 is pressed as will be described below.

The engine 46 includes a carburetor 61 connected by means of a throttle cable 63 to a speed control lever 65. Affixed to the side of the housing is a guide 67 having a vertical way within which is mounted for up and down sliding motion a bracket 64 with a horizontally and longitudinally extending section 68.' To the section 68 is secured for free rotation three longitudinally spaced idler pulleys 70, 72 and 74 each having a central circumferential groove that is engaged over the cable 26 to provide supports for the drive assembly 40. Pivotally connected at each end between the lower end of the bracket 64 and the bar 42 is a link 76 formed from a metal rod. A great many variations can be made in the construction. For example, the cable can be secured between trees and the frames 10 and 12 eliminated.

The operation of the device will now be described. The entire apparatus is transported to a skiing location. The poles 14 and 16 are then placed in the sockets 20 and 18. The cable 26 is secured to the holders 21 and the free ends fastened in fixed positions on the ground by stakes 28. The drive assembly 40 is then placed on the cable 26 as shown and the engine 46 started. The user then pulls the bar 42 downwardly from the dotted line position of FIGURE 1 to the solid line position of FIGURES 1 and 3 and places the cross arm 44 behind his legs. The idlers 70, 72 and 74 will then press the cable 26 into the groove 62 causing a frictional connection between the cable 26 and the belt 60. The skier then grasps the throttle lever 65 and accelerates the motor. The resulting engagement of clutch 49 will transmit power to shaft 52 through gears 50. The rotation of shaft 52, sheave 54 and belt 60 will cause the drive assembly and skier to travel forwardly on the cable toward the right as seen in FIGURES 1 and 2 at the speed he has selected until the top of the hill is reached. The skier then releases the lever 65 causing the engine 46 to decelerate until idling speed is reached. The skier should then step away from the drive assembly and release bar 42. The spring 48 will then raise the bar 42 to the dotted line position of FIGURE 1 and the cable 26 will disengage the belt 60 as shown in FIGURE 2. Gravity will then cause the entire assembly 40 to travel to the lower end of cable at the base of the hill. When the lower end of the cable is reached, the motion of the drive assembly will be arrested by bumper 36 and spring 34. i

While the support frames make the present invention somewhat more bulky and require slightly more time to set up for operation than my prior invention described above because it is necessary to insert the poles in the holders 21 and place each frame in position, the drive assembly itself can in general be made smaller and is able to move with less friction since no ground support is required. The present invention can also be used reliably in locations where there is a sharp dip in the ground between the stakes 28 whereas the drive assembly of my prior device will be lifted from the surface of the snow by the cable when a sharp dip is present in the ground between the top and bottom of the hill and the cable is tightly stretched. This, in turn, will cause the handle to swing toward one side.

The present invention also requires no reverse gearing and yet will travel back to the starting point reliably under a variety of weather conditions. It has the further advantage in that the skier is towed in a more restful manner since he is able to lean against the bar 44. Moreover, since the cable 26 is supported above the ground, no snow or ice will collect on it and accordingly, good traction will more reliably be obtained.

Many variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art within the scope of the appended claims once the principles of the invention are understood.

What I claim is:

1. A portable ski tow comprising an elongated towing line, a line supporting means at each end of the line for holding the ends of the line in a fixed position above the ground, a drive assembly adapted to be supported on the line at a predetermined distanced above the ground for movement thereon between the line supporting means, an operator support member secured to the drive assembly,

a motive power means on the drive assembly, a traction means operatively associated with the motive power means and adapted to be connected in driving engagement with the motive power means, a means for frictionally connecting the traction means to the line for propelling the drive assembly in a forward direction along the line with the operator retained on the operator support means and a means for disengaging the motive power means from the line whereby the motive power means is free to travel rearwardly to the bottom of the hill without the skier on the operator support member.

2. A ski tow comprising a flexible line adapted to be secured in a fixed position in spaced relation to the ground, a motive power means adapted to be mounted for movement along the line, a rotatable traction member on the motive power means adapted to be connected in driving engagement with the line, a moveable control element operatively associated with the traction member to move the traction member into engagement with the line and a skier supporting member on the motive power means, the traction member being thereby adapted to propel the motive power means and skier along the line when the control element is moved to a position which causes the line to contact the traction member.

3. A ski tow comprising an elongated flexible line adapted to be supported in a stationary position spaced above the ground, a motor mounted on the line for movement therealong, a traction member operatively associated with the motor for frictionally engaging the motor with the line to propel the motor along the line when the motor is operated, a means for disengaging the motor from the line whereby the motor will travel to the end of the line at the bottom of the hill under the influence of gravity and a skier supporting member connected to the motor for allowing a skier to secure himself to the motor when being towed thereby.

4. A towing apparatus for transporting persons engaged in winter sports over snow covered ground comprising a pair of spaced supports, a flexible line secured between the supports, a motive power means mounted upon the portion of the line between the supports, a lever on the motive power means that can be contacted by a person on the ground for securing the person to the motive power means, said lever being connected to the motive power means for movement by said person between first and second positions, and an operative connection between the lever and the motive power means for engaging the motive power means and the line when the lever is in the first position and for disengaging the line and motive power means when the lever is in the second position.

5. A towing apparatus for transporting persons engaged in winter sports over snow covered ground comprising a pair of spaced supports, a flexible line secured between the supports, a motive power means mounted upon the portion of the line between the supports, means for connecting the power means in driving engagement with the line and a means on the motive power means that can be contacted by a person on the ground for securing the person to the motive power means and a throttle lever mounted upon the apparatus in position to be grasped by the person using the apparatus and operative- 1y connected to the motive power means whereby the person can control his speed over the ground.

6. A ski tow comprising a flexible line adapted to be secured in a fixed position above the ground, a base member, a motor mounted on the base, a wheel means mounted on the base and positioned to contact the upper surface of the line for supporting the base member and motor from the line, a rotatable traction member connected to be driven by the motor, an operator supporting member moveably mounted on the base for shifting the traction member and wheeled means toward each other to forceably press the line against the traction member in a first position and to release the traction member from the line in a second position wherein the base and motor will be free to travel back toward the end of the line at the bottom of the hill.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein a spring is provided to yieldably bias the operator support toward the second position.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the traction member is a belt entrained over a pair of spaced sheaves.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein a throttle is connected to the motor and mounted on the apparatus in position to be grasped by the operator for allowing the operator to control his speed.

10. A motive power unit for a ski tow having a flexible line, said apparatus comprising a base, a motor, a rotatable element on the base to support the base from the line, a motor on the base and a rotatable traction member connected to the motor to engage the line for propelling the unit along the line.

11. A ski tow apparatus comprising in combination a flexible line adapted to be secured in a fixed position, a towing unit adapted to travel along the line in either direction between its ends, two opposed cooperating rotatable elements mounted uopn the towing unit, a motive power means operatively associated with at least one of the rotatable elements, a means for guiding the line between the rotatable elements, a biasing means to force the rotatable elements toward one another to tightly engage the portion of the line therebetween whereby the pressure of the rotatable elements on the line engages the rotatable elements with the line to permit rotation of the rotatable elements to drive the towing unit along the line.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein at least one of said rotatable elements is a flexible endless belt entrained upon supporting wheels.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,378,207 10/1964 France.

ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner. D. F. WORTH, Assistant Examiner. 

